---
title: Installation
order: 1
---

Chisel is a Blender extension. Install Blender first, then drop the Chisel zip into the Blender window.

## Requirements

- **Blender 4.5.7 or newer**
- **Windows x64**, **macOS ARM64**, or **Linux x64**
- **Vulkan-capable GPU** strongly recommended. OpenGL works but compiles and runs 5–10× slower. Metal works on macOS.

## Get Blender

1. Visit [blender.org](https://www.blender.org) and grab 4.5.7 or later for your OS.
2. Install Blender.

## Get Chisel

Download Chisel from the [Superhive marketplace](https://superhivemarket.com/creators/ezelar/?ref=8329) and save the `.zip` somewhere convenient.

## Install the addon

1. Open Blender.
2. Drag the Chisel `.zip` directly into the Blender window. Blender installs it as an extension.
3. `Edit → Preferences → Save Preferences` so the install persists across sessions.

![Chisel tool in the toolbar](../assets/tool-toolbar.webp)

When the install completes, the *Chisel* workspace tool appears in the 3D View toolbar — that's the visible sign the extension is loaded.

## Verify

Open `Edit → Preferences → Add-ons → Chisel`. The status block should show:

- **Native library** — version `1.2.0` or later for `armesher`
- **GPU backend** — Vulkan (recommended), or OpenGL with a "switch to Vulkan" hint
- **Shaders** — *Compiled* once the first viewport frame has run

If you see a yellow *Update Native Libraries* button, click it and restart Blender. That reinstalls the bundled native libraries.

## Next

Head to [First Launch](first-launch.md) to switch on the engine, drop your first primitive, and try a smooth boolean.